Some one finished

    I got the nicest email from Dana at   Stormy Days blog .   I love the name of her blog!   She wrote,

   "I have to say, I really did learn a lot. You really made me think about what I was doing......after doing this one, well, I know how to look at the fabrics and I know how to make a bigger grid and how the colors blend, or don't. I'm fascinated with color. I'll be back. "

She followed through the Watercolor tutorials and completed enough blocks for a heart!  Here's her heart....didn't she do a great job.  She's a new blogger, so follow the link and give her a hello. 

   I think that is just about the best compliment you can give me.    Thomas Jefferson said it best. 

" He who receives an idea from me,

 receives it without lessening me,

 as he who lights his candle at mine receives light without diminishing me."

 Off to see Deana and Trey....have a great weekend.  Happy stitching.

Keeping blocks in order

  Getting blocks from the design wall to the sewing machine and keeping them in the correct order can be a challenge.  Especially for me, as my mind is usually zipping in and out of  a couple of different zones.  So for the watercolor blocks, I wanted to be sure nothing got turned upside down because that would destroy the design.  I used a modified chain  technique, much like Bonnie Hunter shows in her tutorial on webbing the quilt .  (Guess you have figured out that I am a huge Quiltville fan!)

 

 Before I remove the first row of blocks from the design wall, I put a yellow head pin  in the upper left hand corner of the block.  That marks the top for me....always.  I remove the first row/column of blocks....one at a time and stack them top to bottom.  Then I do the second row/column  in the same way....except the second row gets 2 pins.  Both stacks go to the machine, and the block from the second row goes on top of the first row block.  Stitch.  Then chain feed the  next set of 1 and 2 blocks.  And so on until all the pairs are stitched together.  Because I have chain stitched them in order, they stay in order.  Now I can sew the pairs together and end up with 2 completed rows.  Repeat across the quilt top and then join each section. 

    I decided on the final layout that I showed.  It is 36" by 60", and I am adding a small border, about 3" all the way around.  Why so narrow?  I want it for the foot of the bed, as an extra layer for my feet. 

Wantobe Quilter giveaway today  is a good one....don't miss it.  It's for quilters today.  If you have a blog, just enter a comment.  Make sure your email is available in your settings, no-reply blogger comments are dead ends! 

  Hmmm....just read about the updating to blogger.  Has anyone tried it out yet?  That means a new learning curve for me.  The features look good, as long as I can figure them out.  I think I will wait a bit and make sure the bugs are worked out.

Happy stitching.

New from EQ Boutique

If you use EQ, check this out.   

 It's for EQ Boutique, a new site for block collections from EQ.   I just did the free download of Ohio Star blocks and got a big collection of applique blocks too. 

  The program can be linked to EQ or  use it to print the downloaded  block patterns or templates for applique.  

Just passing it on.

The answer is....

  On the right side about half way down....you can see a 4 patch unit that got turned the wrong way.  It is not a huge obvious mistake, but it is there.  I am not stressing over it.  But after all the questions of where is it, I thought I had better answer and use a better photo. 

  Happy stitching.

The end of Summer

There was a hint of coolness in the air this morning.  Summer is winding down, and the flowers are fading.  And I completed my Summer of Love quilt today....and all the memories that go with it. 

Seeing this spread out in the shade, made me think of the song, "What a day for a daydream".

Thrown over a porch chair, you can see a bit of the quilting design.  Yes, my favorite swirls spread all over the entire top.  I like the way they softened the whole thing, rather than making one part stand out. 

I used Isacord thread....oyster color for the quilting.  For sure, this is "Mellow Yellow".

Look close....can you see my mistake?   LOL....I didn't spot it until I was finished with the quilting.   Actually, there is another 4 patch placed wrong too....I just can't see it in this photo.  They can remind me of the "mistakes" I made in my youth. 

And finally, the label.  I found a flower graphic very typical of the 60's that I used in the background.  It doesn't show very well because I formatted the color of it to the lightest gray, so that the text would show up over it.  But I did use a new trick here.  The border fabric was added and turned under around the label.  Then  I added strips of heat and bond light around the edges on the back and fused it to the back of the quilt.  It will hold it until I get the edges stitched down by hand.   A great temporary label! 

  Many thanks to Bonnie Hunter for discovering the inspiration quilt and sharing the pattern for the florabunda blocks.  She has a pdf version of the pattern and instructions posted at Quiltville.com.

Happy stitching.

A little help from my friends...

 I've been quiet, but busy.    I finished up the quilting on the florabunda/yellow one....looks good.  Now to get the binding on.

   We did a work day at Deana's.  Her "friends"---or the bodies, I  should say---needed to be moved into storage for a while.  If you watch Project Runway, you are familiar with these dress forms.  She has a  various sizes in her collection now, but limited room.  So these were going to storage until needed.   I think  I should make dust covers for them.....just something to add to the project list. 

  

 I started a few string pieced blocks .....I am sticking to a color way for this one.

  Don't tell....but  I wonder if Trey will recognize that pink princess fabric? 

Happy stitching.

Quick project

  I'm ready to quilt Summer of Love, or I thought I was until I read a post on Borderline quilter.  Kay does beautiful quilting and she showed a quilt that was transformed from simple and plain to amazing.  The quilting blended and softened the blocks.  Hmmm....I need to re-think how I am going to quilt  this, afterall.  So,  I side tracked to do something simple and easy and let the quilting thoughts simmer.

 Here's what I started with:  more batik strings and strips like I used for the table runner. 

Placemats----Ingredients required:

Strips, strings, or scraps of your choice

batting cut to size--12" by 17"

fabric for backing--approximately 12 1/2" by 18"

Once I had pieced large sections of strings together, I used the batting as a foundation to sew and flip the sections together. 

I cut the batting about 1/2" smaller  overall  in each direction....that way I don't have to trim it ot of the seam after sewing.  Stitch around all sides, leaving a 3 inch opening for turning.   I also leave the backing fabric larger and trim down after sewing.  After pressing, I straight stitch around all four sides about 1/4" from the edge, then I free motion quilt.  Done!

    Strings are so easy.  I do love quick and easy.  There may be a string quilt--or two-- in my future.  That is, after I get the big yellow one quilted!

Happy stitching.